Fantasy Hockey Poll: Players on the Bubble Keeper & 60-Point Threshold

Rick Roos

2021-09-08

In past Bubble Keeper Weeks, I've written a Goldipucks piece as my Roos Lets Loose entry. But this year I thought I'd mix things up and instead run a poll. With Bubble Keepers, it's all about mining for hidden gems while avoiding those who'll never fully reach their potential or whose numbers are poised to crater due to age. With that in mind, I've listed below 20 Bubble Keeper forwards, and your task is simple – pick any and all who you believe will reach the 60-point mark this season, in doing so separating those perhaps deserving of a keeper spot from those who should be tossed back into the draft pile. To be clear, I mean actually reach 60 points, not just a 60-point pace; so you should take into account their injury history/risks.

Here are the 20 choices, in alphabetical order and with last season's scoring pace denoted. The link for you to cast your vote(s) will appear at the end of the column.

Cam Atkinson (2020-21 scoring pace = 50 points)

Having reached the 60+ mark twice in his prior five seasons, Atkinson has shown he has the talent to be impactful. His lower numbers the past two seasons could be attributable to being in a John Tortorella system. With a fresh start on the Flyers, Atkinson should get a long look in the top six, where he could find his scoring touch again as he's still only 32 years old.

Jamie Benn (2020-21 scoring pace = 55 points)

Speaking of 32 year olds, I'm guessing many of you thought Benn was older simply because he's been around so long. After a five season stretch that saw his scoring rate range from 73 to 89, he's not risen above 56 in any of the past three. Yet in 2020-21 he did show some signs of renewed life, plus he stands to still get favorable ice time at ES and on the PP due to his contract and the type of game he plays. For sure his best days are well behind him, but a jump back to 60+ seems plausible.

Tyler Bertuzzi (2020-21 scoring pace = 64 points)

So far Bertuzzi's scoring pace has risen with each passing season. Yet he missed nearly all of 2020-21 to injury and Detroit is somewhat of a revamped team now, with Anthony Mantha gone and Jakub Vrana having been added, plus a bevy of youngster on their way. On paper this seems like a no brainer, but with young forwards you never really know.

Jesper Bratt (2020-21 scoring pace = 53 points)

With a locked in top six spot, meaning he'll be on a line with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, and barely above his breakout threshold, Bratt is poised to take the next step in his career. The issue is whether he'll get PP time to help boost his totals, and if New Jersey's offense will be potent enough to see any 60 point scorers, let alone Bratt.

Anthony Cirelli (2020-21 scoring pace = 36 points)

Like Bratt, Cirelli is just past his breakout threshold. Plus, given how things looked in the playoffs, he should be centering Steven Stamkos in 2021-22. Sure, Cirelli won't get PP1 time; but with other teams keying their defenses on Tampa's top line, he could flourish.

Max Domi (2020-21 scoring pace = 36 points)

Only once has Domi scored at a pace higher than 53; but that was a 72-point pace. Plus, John Tortorella, who was no Domi fan, is now gone and the team is still lacking as far as centers, so Domi, who's only 26, should have a chance to prove he was more than a one year wonder.

Anthony Duclair (2020-21 scoring pace = 61 points)

Despite the addition of Sam Reinhart, Duclair should have a top six spot, meaning he'll skate on a line with Aleksander Barkov or Jonathan Huberdeau. Yes, like Cirelli he won't sniff PP1 time; however, Duclair showed last season he can be a 60+ scorer, so why not bank on it happening again, as he's still only 26 and has seen his scoring pace rise in each of the past four seasons.

Mikael Granlund (2020-21 scoring pace = 43 points)

It seems like a lot longer ago than 2016-17 and 2017-18 that Granlund had back-to-back seasons of 70+ point scoring pace, especially since his cumulative scoring over the past two campaigns was exactly a point per every…….other game. Yet Nashville still gave him major minutes and did opt to re-sign him, not to mention he finished 2020-21 with nine points in his last nine contests. Was that just a UFA push, or a sign he's going to right his scoring ship?

Zach Hyman (2020-21 scoring pace = 63 points)

The Oilers didn't ink Hyman to a deal of that size to have him toil in the bottom six, and he has amply shown he can "run with the big boys" from his seasons in Toronto. Even if he doesn't get PP1 time, he'll rack up points at ES alongside Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl.

Kasperi Kapanen (2020-21 scoring pace = 62 points)

Yes, Kapanen's center Evgeni Malkin might be slowing and is projected to start the season already on the shelf, plus Kapanen doesn't get PP1 time. Yet last season he put up perhaps the quietest 62-point scoring pace in the league. If you recall the Pens paid a steep price to land the now 25-year-old Finn, so he'll get his chances to shine.

Phill Kessel (2020-21 scoring pace = 63 points)

Like Benn, Kessel seems a lot older than what he actually is, which is 33. But between playoffs and the regular season he's logged over 1200 games. That's a lot for someone who even in his prime didn't prioritize fitness. Still though, someone on Arizona has to score and he remains arguably the most talented player on the team. Perhaps 2019-20 was just a one year radar blip?

Alex Killorn (2020-21 scoring pace = 48 points)

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Killorn has never scored at a 60-point pace in his career, so why would he be likely to do so now, as he'll be 32 when the puck drops on 2021-22? A spot on the vaunted Tampa Bay PP1, which Killorn was able to command even when Nikita Kucherov was back on the team. Sticking on that unit could give him the boost to put him over the 60-point hump for the first time.

Chris Kreider (2020-21 scoring pace = 49 points)

Another player who's never tasted 60+ points, why would he do so now, especially after a five-year low scoring rate in 2020-21? For one, his size and the type of game he plays all but ensures he'll have a top six spot, plus one on PP1. The Rangers score enough that a rising tide should lift all boats, including his.

Anders Lee (2020-21 scoring pace = 58 points)

The 2020-21 season saw Lee play in fewer than half his team's games. But when he was on the ice he was as solid as ever. He's stapled to Mathew Barzal, the team's best center, and has a locked down spot on PP1, plus has scored above a 60-point pace previously. If the team is able to open up its offense even a bit, Lee should taste 60 again.

Jared McCann (2020-21 scoring pace = 61 points)

The caveat with McCann is although he scored at a 61 point pace as a Pen in 2020-21, nine of his ten PPPts came with Sidney Crosby and/or Jake Guentzel on the ice, plus McCann had superb chemistry with late addition Jeff Carter. None of them are on Seattle, where he'll be "the guy" for the first time but perhaps his supporting cast won't be capable of helping lift him to 60.

T.J. Oshie (2020-21 scoring pace = 67 points)

The seemingly ageless wonder, Oshie has held onto his top six spot and is a PP force. But since coming to Washington he's had a pattern of solid year followed by a less solid one, where his scoring pace is below 60. Will that pattern continue, meaning a disappointing 2021-22, or for once can Oshie carry his momentum through a second straight season?

Joe Pavelski (2020-21 scoring pace = 75 points)

Speaking those defying father time, the 37-year-old Pavelski looked DOA with the Stars upon arriving in 2019-20. However, in 2020-21 he found great chemistry with Roope Hintz. With the pair likely to remain together, the only question is whether Little Joe still has enough gas left in the tank to thrive for another season.

Chandler Stephenson (2020-21 scoring pace = 56 points)

It's rare for a center to score at rate so far below that of his wingers. Yet that's what happened with Stephenson and Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty in 2020-21. Still, Stephenson was starting to pick up steam as the season rolled on, with 16 points in his last 18 games plus lots more ice time both overall and on the PP. If he keeps this gig, 60 seems plausible, if not probable.

James van Riemsdyk (2020-21 scoring pace = 63 points)

Similar to Oshie, JVR has seemingly settled into a trend of 60+ point pace season followed by one with a 50- to 55-point pace. The big question is whether, at 32, JVR's body will start to break down, as has happened to many larger stature players like him.

Mats Zuccarello (2020-21 scoring pace = 68 points)

The Wild were hoping the diminutive Norwegian would be able to recreate the magic that saw him score at a 60+ point pace in three of his previous five seasons. Then he went out and had his best scoring output of his career, all at age 33. Given the superb chemistry he showed with Kirill Kaprizov, MKZ should be able to keep his spot and is a good bet to score in droves again.

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Having read this I'm sure you have your list of those who you think can indeed score 60+ points for 2021-22. Your next step is to cast your votes, which you can do here. Be sure to vote for any and all whom you think can reach that threshold.

Questions for Mailbag column

The upcoming edition has room for a few more questions, although note that it will publish on September 29th, so if you have keeper questions you shouldn't send them unless you can wait until then for an answer. To get your question(s) to me, either private message “rizzeedizzee” via the DobberHockey Forums or, instead, send an email to [email protected] with “Roos Mailbag” as the subject line.

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